Congratulations to eighth-grader Nathan Hardenburg, the winner of the 2018 Central Catholic school spelling bee. Hardenburg survived 10 rounds and out-spelled eight others to win the spelling bee for junior high students on Thursday, Jan. 18.

Hardenburg edged out the defending champion, Maria Vawter, by correctly spelling dexterity and marmalade in the final two rounds.

As the school spelling champion, Nathan will represent Central Catholic in the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee on March 3 at Frankfort High School, competing for a chance to advance to National Spelling Bee this spring in Washington D.C.

Hardenburg, Vawter, and three other school spelling bee participates (yet to be determined) will represent CC in the Christian Schools Spelling Bee on Feb. 6 at Faith Christian School.